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2 from rural Atlantic win Center for Rural Affairs 7th Generation Award

Ag/Outdoor, News

February 18th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

LYONS, NEBRASKA – Officials with The Center for Rural Affairs, Thursday (Feb. 15, 2024), announced recognition of outstanding people and entities in two states. Among were two from rural Atlantic. Winners of the Seventh Generation Award were Denise O’Brien and Larry Harris, Rolling Acres Farm ( Atlantic, Iowa), for lifetime service in making major contributions in improving rural life and protecting our land and water.

CRA Executive Director Brian Depew says “Each year, we honor the rural champions who help us accomplish so much for rural America. This group of award winners have gone above and beyond to lay the foundation for a better rural future.”

Awards will be presented to each recipient this spring.

The Center for Rural Affairs works to strengthen small businesses, family farms and ranches, and rural communities through action oriented programs addressing social, economic, and environmental issues.

Iowa FFA week activities set to get underway

Ag/Outdoor, News

February 16th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s FFA members will celebrate the group’s 96th anniversary as FFA week starts this Saturday. The group’s advisor in Webster City Kurt Veldhuizen says the national membership is near the one million mark and growing.

“I think that’s huge. I think it’s just a sign of you know how important society is realizing that food and food production is. And then of course the careers are just, agriculture is in such high need to fill careers and I think we see that in our students and finding an interest in this area,” he says. Iowa has 19,200 members involved in many activities. Veldhuizen says the membership is not long strictly from rural areas.

“Urban food production is very important, but beyond that agriculture is such a large industry that the jobs can’t be filled by just those kids coming from rural areas.” He says that in his own town. “I’m proud of that here in Webster City that we have about half and half, Half of our kids live outside of town city limits. Half of our kids do come from in town,” he says. “And that’s important that they’re seeing those things and the skills and the job opportunities that are there too.”

The Iowa FFA Leadership Conference is coming to Ames on April 14-16. You can find out more about FFA at www.iowaffa.com.

Senators rewrite bill to restrict research of meat substitutes

Ag/Outdoor, News

February 16th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, Iowa [Iowa Capital Dispatch]) – A bill that was amended in the Iowa Senate on Thursday would now prohibit the state’s regent universities from researching “manufactured protein products.” The Iowa Capital Dispatch reports Senate Study Bill 3162, which pertains to meat labeling, had previously received early bipartisan support as a way to help consumers distinguish between food that contains meat or meat substitutes, but it was rewritten Thursday by Republicans on the Senate Agriculture Committee.

A copy of the amended bill was not immediately publicly available, but Sen. Dawn Driscoll, R-Williamsburg, said in the committee meeting that the new version “prohibits the Board of Regents from conducting research into the production or use of manufactured protein products.” Meat look-alikes that are derived from cell cultivations, insects or plants also cannot be labeled as beef, chicken, goat, lamb, pork, sheep or turkey, the bill says, and wrongly labeled and “cell-cultivated products” should not be purchased by schools.

“Lab grown products are made in a petri dish and are not the same as the high-quality beef, pork, poultry, goat, lamb raised by hardworking Iowa farm families,” Driscoll said. “The taxpayer dollars should not be used to support these products over the real meat raised on Iowa farms.” Democrats of the committee were incensed by the abrupt changes to a bill they previously supported.

“The clarity of labeling — wanting to make sure people understand when they’re getting a plant-based product versus an actual beef or pork product — those things are important,” said Sen. Nate Boulton, D-Des Moines. “But when we go a step further, and we do it right before a committee meets, and we restrict research, all of a sudden we’re getting way, way, way far away from the original point of this legislation.”

Sen. Bill Dotzler, D-Waterloo, said the amended bill improperly favors one type of Iowa agriculture — livestock production — over another type — soybean production, which is a source of protein for meat substitutes. “I don’t understand what the beef industry’s worried about, because I don’t know anybody who wants to grill soy burger when they have people over,” Dotzler said. “Iowans and people across this country love beef. Why are you worried?”

Senate Ag Committee approves liability protection for Roundup’s manufacturer

Ag/Outdoor, News

February 16th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Senate Ag Committee has approved a bill that gives some liability protection to farm chemical companies, including Bayer, which makes the widely used weed killer Roundup. Senator Jeff Edler, a Republican from State Center, who’s a farmer, says in 2020 the E-P-A determined the main ingredient in Roundup is not a carcinogen.

“This isn’t about emotion. It’s not about who said what. This is about true science and either you believe the EPA does true science or not,” Edler said. “All this does it take away one little loophole in the way someone was able to construe whether they felt Roundup caused cancer.” Senator Dan Zumbach, a Republican from Ryan who’s a farmer, says companies like Bayer will stop developing and improving farm chemicals if their legal exposure grows.

“If we constantly put them in a position where the risk is so high that they say, ‘The heck with it. We’re not going to do it anymore,’ not just farmers but every person in this room will suffer,” Zumbach says. “There will be starving children for the lack of the availability of these products.” Democrats on the committee opposed the bill. Senator William Dotzler is a Democrat from Waterloo.

“What this thing does is it stops people who’ve been exposed to this and die and their farmer families to get compensation,” Dotzler said. Senator Nate Boulton, a Democrat from Des Moines, says he’s siding with farmers who contend they’ve contracted cancer from exposure to farm chemicals rather than a company concerned about profit margins. “When I look at the wealthiest corporations on the planet, I have a hard time feeling like there’s a tug at my heart strings to make sure they’re going to be ok,” Boulton says.

A similar bill was introduced in the Iowa House, but failed to pass a key committee by today’s (Friday’s) deadline.

Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig in Neola on Friday

Ag/Outdoor, News

February 15th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, Iowa) – As part of his annual visits to each of Iowa’s 99 counties, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig will be in Southwest Iowa on Friday for four different stops.

In Shelby County, Secretary Naig will tour a brand new, Farm Service Cooperative Warehouse. He was unable to attend their open house last summer and so he will tour the warehouse and meet with employees and leadership to hear about current issues and how preparations for the spring planting season are going.

In Harrison County, Secretary Naig will tour and learn about the IGNITE Pathways Land and Cattle Program, in Woodbine. IGNITE was founded by a group of enterprising students in 2022. The program aims to provide practical learning opportunities in agriculture by renting a farm and raising chickens, goats, sheep, and cattle. The students have demonstrated their commitment to the welfare of the animals by taking on the responsibility of sourcing resources, building and maintaining farm infrastructure, and installing fences. Under the guidance of Justin Mills, Agriculture Instructor at IGNITE Pathways, the program has grown in scale and scope. The students gain invaluable hands-on experience in various aspects of agriculture, including caring for animals, crop cultivation, and farm management.

And, the Secretary will speak at a regional Iowa Corn Growers meeting in Missouri Valley, about current topics in agriculture, provide an update on some of his priorities and initiatives, and take questions from the audience.

In Pottawattamie County, Secretary Naig will meet with FFA members and ag students from the Tri-Center FFA in Neola, and learn about their school’s efforts to partner on pollinator habitat and conservation and water quality projects with area partners, including the local Soil and Water Conservation District. Ahead of FFA Week, which is the following week,  Secretary Naig will also tour their livestock facility.

As other seasons close, hunters turn attention to coyotes

Ag/Outdoor, News

February 14th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Iowa DNR News) – Coyote hunting moves to center stage for an estimated 10,000 hunters, after most of Iowa’s other hunting seasons have now closed. Although its season never closes, coyotes, the state’s top predator, are hunted most often during the winter. The coyote population is distributed fairly well across the state with the highest numbers in western Iowa. Coyotes are habitat generalists and can be found near large brush piles, timber and grass fields, and in particular, fields with switchgrass.  Coyote hunters need to be aware of the possibility – however remote – that the animal they see through their scope is not a coyote but a wolf passing through the state.

“We’ve had a slight increase in the number of reported wolf sightings over the past few years, so there is a chance, even if it’s small, that a coyote hunter may see a wolf while hunting coyotes, especially at night. Whenever we’ve been able to get DNA samples, these dispersing wolves were members of the Great Lakes population from Wisconsin or Minnesota that were wandering through,” said Vince Evelsizer, state furbearer biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Wolves are protected in Iowa and there is no open season. Shooting a wolf has the potential to bring state and or federal fines. “Hunters want to do the right thing. One of the first rules in safe hunting practices is to positively identify your target and what is behind your target before taking a shot. Wolves are two to three times the size of a coyote. If what you see is larger than the average coyote, it is definitely worth not pulling the trigger,” said Colonel Craig Cutts, chief of the Iowa DNR’s Law Enforcement Bureau.

Other than the obvious size difference – coyotes typically weigh 25-40 pounds, while wolves typically weigh 70-110 pounds – Evelsizer said there are other characteristics to help determine the identity of the canine. Coyotes have a pointed snout and their ears are larger proportionally to their body. Wolves are taller than coyotes, have long front legs and a heavier, squarer frame.  There is more detailed information on coyote and wolf characteristics at www.iowadnr.gov/hunting and scroll to the bottom then click on Iowa’s Occasional Wildlife Visitors.

Hunters prefer a fresh layer of snow for tracking and the white background makes coyotes easier to see from a long distance. Wind is critical to coyote hunters because it impacts where and how they set up for calling and pursuing coyotes as coyotes have a keen nose and are naturally wary. Wearing snow colored camo is often effective to avoid detection. The demand for coyote fur for use as trim for hood and coats in foreign markets was strong just a few years ago, but that has changed. Iowa coyote pelts in 2020 averaged $20.53 per pelt depending on the quality and Iowa’s pelts are considered average. Last year’s average price was $8.70. “The top pelts come from the Dakotas, Montana, and Saskatchewan and Alberta, Canada,” Evelsizer said.

“We receive complaints from the public about coyotes’ impact on young deer, turkeys and rabbits; harass pets, and farmers’ loss of livestock. So, in that respect, hunters provide an important service by hunting coyotes,” Cutts said. “That being said, they’re a very wary game animal worthy of respect. We don’t allow the use of artificial light for night hunting on purpose because we encourage fair chase and it could increase the incentive to misuse the technology to poach deer and other wildlife.”

Coyote trapping is allowed, but it must be done during the trapping season.

Coyote hunting dos & don’ts

Hunters are reminded that the way they hunt reflects on all hunters. “With our coyote hunters, we especially want to emphasize respect for landowners and their property lines. Take the extra time to close their gates, obey the laws for safe shots, and thank the landowner – keep your interaction with folks while out hunting positive,” Cutts said. Most coyote hunting takes place on private land, and occasionally hunters will cross property boundaries which lead to trespassing complaints. Hunters cannot pursue coyotes using a snowmobile, aircraft or with the aid of artificial light, regardless of light color.

  • Be sure to close all gates that were opened, not trespass where permission was not given and to follow fair chase principles
  • Don’t shoot over any road right-of-way, gravel or paved
  • If running dogs, be sure to have permission from all landowners in the area where the hunt will take place
  • Be sure of the target – make sure it’s a coyote and not a dog.

Bull that got loose in Des Moines is put down for public safety reasons

Ag/Outdoor, News

February 14th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa [KCCI] — A bull that got loose during the Iowa Beef Expo at the Iowa State Fairgrounds Tuesday morning has been euthanized. The Des Moines Police Department first notified the public through a post on X at 7:52 a.m. that the bull had been discovered missing, but they weren’t sure whether it had left the Fairgrounds’ property. They offered a warning not to approach the bull and instead call 911 if you see it. At 9:49 a.m., DMPD posted that the bull had been captured.

A statement provided later in the morning by the Iowa Beef Expo revealed the bull had been euthanized for safety reasons.

“We regret to inform you that, despite our best efforts, the loose bull during the Iowa Beef Expo has been euthanized for safety. We understand the concern this may cause, and we share in that sadness. Our primary focus remains the safety and well-being of the people and animals at the show. We appreciate the swift and diligent response of staff and the cooperation of attendees and exhibitors. Our thoughts are with all those affected, and we are committed to learning from this experience to prevent similar occurrences in the future.”

Iowa Beef Expo

A representative for the Iowa Beef Expo declined to provide information about how the animal was euthanized and said they had no further comment or information on the matter at this time. The Iowa Beef Expo runs through February 18.

ISU Rural Life Poll finds changes in thought on “climate change”

Ag/Outdoor, News

February 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The latest edition of the “Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll” from Iowa State University Extension finds a few shifts in thoughts about climate change. J. Arbuckle oversees the poll and says they first asked the climate question in 2011, and added it again this past year. “That climate change is due to human activities that was increased from ten percent to 15 percent over that time period. And then let’s see, the climate change is occurring, and equally due to natural human causes went from 35 to 40 percent,” Arbuckle says. The climate change question has been asked two other times and he says the number of people who believe it is an issue dropped in the recent poll.

“In 2013 and 2020, there are actually a greater proportion of farmers expressing belief that climate change is occurring, then did the same in 2023,” he says. ” So there’s been a kind of decline between 2020 and 2023, in that, in that metric, whether or not climate change is happening.” Arbuckle says no matter what they think, farmers are trying to react. “It doesn’t really matter, necessarily what they attributed to, they know what’s happening and they’ll tell you , extreme weather is happening more frequently, whether it’s drought, or extreme rains, and so forth,” Arbuckle says. “And many of them are making changes in their, in their operations in response to changing weather.” Arbuckle says complementary research to survey finds the same reaction from farmers.

“Most farmers are concerned about increasingly extreme weather, and the other potential impacts that come along with that, like, you know, disease, and pests, and so forth, and then making decisions to try to adapt,” he says. You can see the complete 2023 poll and past polls on the Iowa State University Extension website.

Gov. Reynolds Extends Harvest Proclamation  

Ag/Outdoor, News

February 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES – Today (Monday), Governor Kim Reynolds signed an extension of the proclamation relating to the weight limits and transportation of grain, fertilizer, and manure.   

The proclamation is effective immediately and continues through February 23, 2024. The proclamation allows vehicles transporting corn, soybeans, hay, straw, silage, stover, fertilizer (dry, liquid, and gas), and manure (dry and liquid) to be overweight (not exceeding 90,000 pounds gross weight) without a permit for the duration of this proclamation.  

This proclamation applies to loads transported on all highways within Iowa (excluding the interstate system) and those which do not exceed a maximum of 90,000 pounds gross weight, do not exceed the maximum axle weight limit determined under the non-primary highway maximum gross weight table in Iowa Code § 321.463 (6) (a) and (b), by more than 12.5 percent, do not exceed the legal maximum axle weight limit of 20,000 pounds, and comply with posted limits on roads and bridges.  

See the proclamation here. 

GOP senator lauds Koch acquisition of Iowa Fertilizer Company

Ag/Outdoor, News

February 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A state senator from southeast Iowa says the Iowa Fertilizer Company near  Wever has been a massive economic success for the region and is poised for possible expansion. The Dutch company that owns the facility is selling it to Koch Industries for three-point-six BILLION dollars, if federal regulators approve the deal. Senator Jeff Reichman is a Republican from Montrose, which is about 20 miles northeast of the plant.

“I am personally excited about the sale and I share the excitement with Southeast Iowa Regional Planning, Greater Burlington Partnership and Lee County Economic Development about the possibilities of expansion and investment,” Reichman says. Democrats in the Iowa House say the sale will make consolidation in the fertilizer industry worse and will likely lead to higher fertilizer prices for Iowa farmers. They also say the tens of millions in state and local tax breaks awarded more than a decade ago to the company that built the plant were intended to spur competition with Koch Industries, which is the country’s largest privately-held company.

Reichman says liberals are obsessed with Koch Industries because Charles and the late David Koch have been influential donors to Republican candidates. “They are a leader in this fertilizer market and do want to continue to grow,” Reichman says. The fertilizer plant was first proposed in 2012 as a project of Orascom, a construction company based in Egypt. Orascom was purchased the following year by O-C-I, which is headquartered in the Netherlands.